E-mail this article

To:

Invalid E-mail address

Add a personal message:(80
character limit)Your E-mail:

Invalid E-mail address

Sending your article

Final: West 148, East 143: LeBron James almost brought the East back and Ray Allen stuck a late 3-pointer but the West holds on. James finishes with 29 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists while Kobe Bryant leads the West with 37 points and 14 rebounds.

Kobe Bryant wins the MVP award.

Bryant said his specific goal was not to necessarily win the MVP award, his fourth.

"No, not really I wanted to come out and play hard, though," he said. "I feel like we have a sense of responsibility and we are voted in for what we do during the season, which is play hard. And we come here, that's what the fans want to see. They want to see us go at it and see us compete and that's what I try to do and that's what I try to tell my teammates to do."

Doc Rivers on the LA crowd booing the Celtics: "Oh, I thought it was beautiful. You knew they were. That's why I put them in together. I just thought it was nice to put them in together, and the fact that it was in L.A., you knew they would not get a rousing ovation. But that was fine. I think our guys expected it and it was fun. Our guys got a good laugh out of it."

Fourth quarter, 2:34, West 137 East 133: In typical All-Star Game fashion, the losing team lays back until the final minutes and then makes a furious run. LeBron James is spearheading the East with a triple-double: 25 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. Kevin Garnett hasn't made much of an impact but he is wildly cheering LeBron's personal rally.

Fourth quarter, 8:03, West 129, East 114: Paul Pierce scores five quick points to make up for a rough three quarters and Kevin Garnett returned to score a hoop and block a layup by Russell Westbrook. Kobe Bryant is on his way to the MVP with 34 points in 22 minutes. He has taken 22 shots.

End of third quarter, West 117, East 100: Kobe Bryant is headed to his fourth All-Star Game MVP award unless something drastic happens. None of the Celtics are making much of a splash but the good news is everybody is healthy. Miami's Dwyane Wade left in the third quarter with a sprained right ankle and he is unlikely to return.

Third quarter, 6:53, West 90, East 81: Kobe Bryant is lighting it up with 30 points on 11-for-18 shooting in just 20 minutes. The Celtics aren't making much of an impact tonight and Doc Rivers still has the East starters on the floor.

Halftime, West 76, East 64: Kobe Bryant already has 21 points and six rebounds while Chris Bosh has 12 points for the East. Ray Allen has five points on 1 of 4 shooting while Rajon Rondo has four points and five assists. Paul Pierce has one points in seven minutes and Kevin Garnett one basket in four minutes.

Second quarter, 2:00, West 64, East 54: You know it's the All-Star Game when Dwight Howard attempts two 3-pointers in the first half. But Ray Allen just got the East closer with his first 3-pointer.

Second quarter, 8:30, West 45, East 37: Chris Bosh has come off the bench for eight points for the east while the West is playing the neophytes, led by Russell Westbrook and Blake Griffin with six points each. Kevin Garnett hit his only shot so far. Doc Rivers has played him four minutes so far.

End of first quarter, West 37, East 27: Kobe Bryant finishes the opening quarter with 11 points while Rajon Rondo delivers four points and four assists for the East. Paul Pierce is being booed by the Los Angeles fans every time he touches the ball. So far he's 0-for-2 from the field with one point.

First quarter, 6:37, West 17-10: Doc Rivers inserts all four Celtics into the lineup to join Dwight Howard, which is a lineup they worked on at practice Saturday. Ray Allen misses a 3-pointer and quickly picks up a foul on Kobe Bryant.